Lindsay Maingot: Consultant’s connections built to last a lifetime

Lindsay Maingot, a credit consultant and finance specialist for Carter GM, says honesty and sincerity are paramount in the auto sales profession.

Ric Ernst, Postmedia News

What began as a desire to sell has become a unique, award-winning career

by
Alexandra Straub, Driving | April 18, 2013

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This is the first in a series profiling women who have risen through the ranks of the automotive industry in Metro Vancouver.

At the ripe age of 16, Lindsay Maingot decided she wanted to get into the automotive industry.

“You know what? I just needed a job and I started as a receptionist at a North Shore dealership,” she says of a career move that would come to define her professional life. “I decided that I really wanted to sell, but no women were salespeople back in the early ’70s.

“I begged them to hire me on the floor, and (back then) they could come right out then and say: ‘We don’t want a woman here,’ not like today.”

Despite those early struggles, the dealership took a chance and hired her as a salesperson when she was just 18.

The first car she ever sold was to a woman and it was a beautiful gold Camaro Berlinetta.

She smiles as she recounts the story.

When asked why she thinks there aren’t many women salespeople, the 55-year old offers: “It’s a tough business.”

From the sales floor, she transitioned into what she really wanted to do.

“I moved from sales and went into the business office because that was really my passion, learning about financing and dealing with people’s credit problems.”

Today, she is the credit consultant and finance specialist at Carter GM.

“Credit is a scary thing,” she says. “It’s not easy for us to access and they don’t teach us about it in school and they should.”

Lindsay’s primary focus at Carter is to try and get people behind the wheel of their dream car, but for a lot of individuals, it’s a not as easy as a few clicks on the computer.

Working with people with challenged credit, the mother of three takes it upon herself to help fix the issue, but tells people it can take time.

“S o m e t i m e s , w h e n y o u bludgeon the credit, and you haven’t paid anything on time, with no one to help you, there’s one place that will do it at 29 per cent. So is it worth it to you to build it back?”

She continues. “I start with someone at 29 per cent, in a reasonable car, in the best car I can find them, the best gas mileage, the lowest payment, as little of an amount to borrow, so they get in the habit of making regular payments again. Then about a year and a half later down the road, they’re back in here, or I call them, and we check their credit. Now, their score might have gone from 450 to 600. Then maybe I can refinance their car and bring it down to 15 per cent. So they don’t go with 29 per cent the whole time. It becomes part of a process where the person and I work together.”

Lindsay has worked with numerous clients over the almost four decades she has been in the auto industry.

Last year alone, she and her team of four facilitated the sale of more than 400 vehicles.

A multiple-time winner of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C.’s salesperson of the year award, Lindsay doesn’t necessarily sell cars but she works with clients with financial woes, including women.

“A lot of women who have gone through divorce or the death of a spouse, single moms. There’s a lot struggle out there.”

While she doesn’t deny that she’s in the business of selling cars, it’s not always about the sale, but the bond formed with clients.

“In this business, all you need to do is be honest, be totally sincere, never drop your eyes from another person.

“You talk from your heart and help them as best you can and you build a relationship. Without a relationship, you’re never going to survive in this business, or any business.”

In her opinion, the personal connection is paramount.

“In my world, people stop by for a hug and a cup of coffee.”

She loves hugs. Aside from embracing, Lindsay, who works six days a week, offers some insight into the car-buying process.

She suggests people know their credit score and see where they stand financially before falling in love with a car on the lot.

“Good credit, or bad credit or just unsure what their options are, customers should have that information first without fear.

“Then they can turn around and leave with that information and decide what’s right for them.”